Roll Call Voyage 2127 Athens to Venice 9/24/11

[DebbieH103]

If this thread exists, I haven't found it. We booked yesterday to celebrate my 10/3 50th birthday. We "debated" with each other, but I won out, and we are booked on the Wind. We loved her but have not been on since the redo. The previous time on Wind was one of our favorite sailings. We have not been to Greece, and though we have been a number of places in Italy, we have never been together and never to Venice. This is 100% new for us and super exciting to me.

 

Anyone else booked on this? I know rates for some sailings are going up soon, and I was excited to "hurry up" here at the holidays to get in on our deal.

[WesW]

Congrats Debbie, am sure Todd and you will have a magnificent 50th Birthday cruise on the Wind..look fwd to pix.

[DebbieH103]

Anyone else going on this sailing? I am looking forward to it more now that they added the $1000 OBC.

 

We were supposed to sail on 3/22 but had to postpone due to schedules, so this will be overdue!

[duct tape]

Too bad! We get off the previous week. I was looking forward to finally meeting you!

[clkc86]

I had been expecting you on our March 22 cruise, sorry it didn't work out. Hope you have a great trip when you do get to go.

[DebbieH103]

I still need to change my signature. Sorry about that.

 

Todd couldn't go on 3/22, so we are doing some land trips to the Caribbean until this fall trip.

 

I've treasured all the CC meetings, so I am disappointed to hear I am missing out on both ends. I hope others will end up on my sailing. Some of these rates go up at the end of the month, so maybe we will see some CCers on the roll call by then.

 

Clkc86, I will be looking for your comments on what I hope will be a lovely cruise. I really wanted to be on it, but even with a good single supplement, I decided not to go.

 

Duct tape, I would love a meeting sometime. I would love to hear your stories in person.

[Travelcat2]

Debbie: Have a wonderful cruise and birthday. It seems that we will miss each other once again as we are booked on the Whisper in May. Do hope we meet up eventually:)

[cruising for sail]

Hi,

My wife and I will also be on the Wind, departing Athens on September 24. We will probably arrive in Athens a day early so that we can take at least a half day tour of the city.

This will be our 5th Silversea cruise and first time on the Wind.

[DebbieH103]

Hi, cruising for sail. We probably will be going to Intercontinental in Athens the day before either with SS or on our own. I want to be in front of the Acropolis. Might stay in Venice another couple of nights to actually be there on my birthday. I don't know. While I love Italy, hubby does not, so that will be a decision that is TBD...neither of us has been to Venice, though he often goes to Milano.

 

At the time, Wind was our favorite, but we like different things about all the ships. We are now used to the setup on Spirit, but it is not so intimate. Nothing else on SS compares to what we thought of Wind, but I just hope it is still how we liked it. We have been on Whisper more than anything, but having the smallest ship is so cozy. I do wish we were getting to Santorini, but another time.

 

Jackie, what sailing are you on?

[william bennett]

My wife (susan) and I are on this cruise-looking forward to it already

We are from Scotland and were on Wind- Dubai-Dubai January this year.

We really liked the small number on board as we met lots of fellow passengers unlike some cruises on larger ships.

I have posted a query re what the situation is when we disembark in Venice as we have flight at 5.30pm to uk.

Looking forward to buying you all a drink!:D

[CruisinPashmina]

Debbie,

Stay in Venice. it is a dream unlke any other place in the world...so interesting, so walkable, so beautiful, and so romantic..the perfect place to celebrate a happy occasion. Stay there, and then tell us all about your impressions. You write so well. I always enjoy your posts.

[DebbieH103]

Thanks, CruisinPashmina for the kind words about my writings. I'll be writing as usual from this cruise.

 

We booked with Silversea for one night ahead in Athens at Intercontinental. We got our tentative flight schedule today. I had asked for STAR Alliance, which was easily accommodated since this is mostly what they use. We get in before 10:30 am on the 23rd and will probably self tour using the Plaka shuttle from the hotel and then maybe booking an Acropolis tour. I just want one nice meal and to see a little there and rest up a lot to enjoy the week. Checking the hotel's rate in Euros vs. SS rate might have implied the draw to book direct, but when SS said we'd get private car tranfer vs. shuttle, I decided it was worth it to do their package.

 

I don't think we will stay on in Venice, but with the overnight, we will do a day tour or hire someone and go eat and walk and are going to do the Gondola for two. Todd goes to Milano every couple of years, so hopefully I can go next time and us add on a Venice trip. Getting some pressure to get back home by my birthday, so guess we will cave to that and keep the trip to 9 days to make it here just in time. We are going to make the most of it.

 

After the 27th, the tours will be out there to book, and with the $1000 obc, we will do some SS ones.

 

This cruise price went up recently, and Vista is waitlisted, so I guess this sailing is becoming popular. I could not be more excited.

[DebbieH103]

We recently took the $1000 credit (and then some) and booked our excursions. We'd have done things a little differently without the credit, but I like what's planned. We try to stick with half day tours. Anyone else have theirs booked?

[DebbieH103]

For those that have done the night time gondola in Venice, how did you do it? We are currently holding the SS excursion with bottle of Prosecco and just the two of us for $578. Seems pretty high and would use over half the $1000 credit. Since our internet will cost $500, that means all of our other excursions are out of our pocket if we do this one. It's for my 50th birthday, so I want the best gondola experience ever.

[Stumblefoot]

It's for my 50th birthday, so I want the best gondola experience ever.

Debbie,

 

It is clear that you are an experienced traveler. You are right to question the excursion price. It is quite steep for the service you will receive. You deserve a gondola experience that is absolutely the best on your birthday, because it's a memory you will treasure for the rest of your life and share with many others. Therefore, keep this intent in mind as you read the suggestions below as they are merely my opinions.

 

I think you will find that the romance of Venice just intensifies as you glide through the moonlit canals in a private gondola. And, while many may feel the gondola ride is a kitschy thing to do, the art and craft of gondoliering is quite authentic. Is it $578 authentic? Only you can make that decision. While the job itself tends to be generational and passed down from father to son, and the study and training is rigorous (so rigorous in fact that one small mistake on test day can be disastrous and most students fail the test multiple times), I find it hard to justify the excursion price when one considers that the official fare (without tip) for a 40 minute nightime ride (after 7:00p) is 100€/$142. So, basically your additional $430 gets you a drink, a biscuit, a song, and a water taxi ride across the Giudecca Canal to/from San Marco Square.

 

Why do I share this? Because, I think you could save a boatload of cash by strolling arm-in-arm with the one you love seeking the perfect gondola ride for your birthday celebration. And, while the business of gondoliering can be a bit bothersome as groups of muscular, zebra-shirted men seem to be everywhere offering incessant invitations to board their gondola, by choosing your own gondolier, you can be sure to avoid a woeful guide, or one with a poor attitude.

 

Since gondoliers do not see themselves as entertainers (a global misperception), I would also suggest to approach your ride through the canals of Venice as a serene trip provided by an experienced craftsman. This will enable you to experience the Venetian virtue of absence. No tacky singing gondoliers, nothing artifical or commericial, no scooters or honking car horns to be bothered by. In other words, no interference with one's inner peace.

 

This will tune your senses as your ears can relax and soak in the songs of birds, the sharing of greetings between citizens (ciao/grazie), or the soft flutter of laundry above your head. Your nose will be buffeted by aromas of pasta and seafood that makes Venice so special. Your sight will be enriched by not only the moonlight, but also by the soft light glowing from the homes as you pass by. Finally, when you touch the one who is most dear to your heart, you will be enveloped by a sense of love and tranquility.

 

How do you find the best gondolier? Avoid Saint Mark's Square and trust your instinct. You're full of intuition, so use it! It won't let you down. My last suggestion is to lose your map (its detrimental to an experience of a lifetime) and get lost in the city. It's not the where or what that matters as much as the intangible, holistic essence of the city that resonates with the essence of you.

 

This is your life experience. Enjoy every moment to its fullest.

[DebbieH103]

Originally Posted by DebbieH103

It's for my 50th birthday, so I want the best gondola experience ever.

 

Thank you so much for the intriguing reply.

 

Yes, I am an experienced traveler, and I also do customized itineraries for travelers all over Europe. Of course, this is my own thing, so for my taste, lol.

 

I know I can get 3rd party tour via the day type boats and do a gondola and have lunch all for this price, but I don't want to really go out with others, and I do want that serenade and dab of Prosecco. I do have suppliers that do this way cheaper than this ship tour. I just have that onboard credit, but I know I am going over by $500 or $600, so that is why I thought of maybe not doing this one with them. My thought on that was that they still make you walk to the gondola on your own unless the escort will take all the couples and line them up.

 

Food for thought.

 

Your romantic descriptions do sound good, and I did find one that starts off the beaten path.

[DebbieH103]

Silversea has an online tour book out: http://www.silversea.com/uploadedFiles/2127SilverWind.pdf

 

Various other voyages have them, too.

[DebbieH103]

Received our documents today. It's always great to get the silver box!!!! We leave in 30 days!

[DebbieH103]

BTW, we booked the pre-night with SS for the Intercontinental Antherium. With that package, you get yourself from the airport to the hotel and then you get SS group transfer from hotel to ship and then from ship to the airport in Venice.

 

The docs read that the boarding time in Pireaus is approx. 1 p.m. The hotel check-out time is 11.

 

Is anyone else on the SS pre-night stay or staying on their own at this hotel?

[skfleisch]

Hi,

This is our first cruise with SS and have enjoyed reading all the replies. How do you meet other CC members on the ship? Is there a special time you all meet or is it just by chance? We will staying in Athens the night before the cruise but not at the Intercontinental. We have been in Athens before and have done most of the tours but will enjoy spending the day visiting markets and doing some shopping. Looking forward to meeting all of you.

[DebbieH103]

We're in cabin 631.

 

It's a port-intensive sailing, and we have a bunch of excursions booked, but we try our best to always show up at trivia in the afternoons.

[tmorr01]

We will also be there. My first cruise on SS, my 28th overall. Coming into Athens a day early as well. Missed the memo regarding the $1000 credit. Should I look into it?

 

Terry

Atlanta, GA

USA

[DebbieH103]

I would investigate and make sure you are getting all the promos. This would be noted on your invoice itself.

[DebbieH103]

One more week until we leave! I can't wait! We have not started packing or anything except adding to our ever-growing "to do list". We plan to enjoy to the fullest.

 

I still have a few worries about this cruise director, but I am sure all will be great.

 

We're on Continental from Houston to Newark to Athens. I think that route should be strike and worry-free!

[DebbieH103]

Well, I am getting excited. We still have not packed, and we are leaving for the airport at 7 am. or so. We have a lot of things out, we haven't decided what to do about formal night with the new luggage rules and such. At least I have found out we are in Premium Voyageur class on the way back from Paris to Atlanta. That will really help with the long haul.

 

If you have multiple airlines that are not in the same alliance, you should check your itinerary on the airline websites (check them anyway). Our Continental flights showed need for for ticket reissue. It was easily solved but required maintenance by Continental, nonetheless.